What does a “professional” camera really mean?

Last week, Tony and Chelsea Northrup posted a controversial video on YouTube that tried to define what a professional camera was. It centers around sales for all of the camera manufacturers. It makes some good points about how higher-end cameras can enhance a photograph. That being said, for the most part making a great photograph is not about the camera — it’s about the photographer.

While there are certainly cameras geared more towards professionals, including features that pros tend to take more advantage of, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make some great photos with a more affordable DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Tony and Chelsea’s argument

If you haven’t already seen the video, I’ve embedded it at the end of this article. Tony and Chelsea’s argument is simple. They put camera manufacturers into three “circles.” These circles are based on what type of person tends to buy those camera makes and models — enthusiasts, pro photographers, and pro videographers. Keep in mind this only takes into account current mirrorless options.

Sony is placed solely in the middle of this, and rightfully so, as its customers are photographers from all three distinctions. Sony makes both consumer and pro-grade cameras for photographers and videographers, offering a wide array of products that appeal to these market segments as Tony describes them.

So what’s the problem? Many are upset with Tony and Chelsea’s assumption that Olympus and Fujifilm are only included in the Enthusiast category, and that Panasonic is only listed in the Pro Video category.

I agree with those that are upset here — I know several professional photographers that use Olympus and Panasonic cameras for both stills and video. I use the Olympus system, with my two OM-D EM-1 Mark II camera bodies. Before I was shooting with Olympus, I shot with the Panasonic GH5 and G9. I can tell you that my photos from both the Panasonic and Olympus cameras were equally as great as my old Nikon full-frame DSLR. The benefit over the Nikon was a significant saving in weight and size with no image quality compromise not to mention the much better video from both Panasonic and Olympus.

While I don’t think Tony and Chelsea meant to offend any micro four-thirds or Fujifilm shooters with their statements, I do think it was a poor argument. They mention that because Olympus and Panasonic have smaller sensors, they can’t keep up with the full-frame Sony option (and soon to be Nikon and Canon).

I understand all the arguments — that depth of field is greater with smaller sensor cameras than with a full frame. Some say that small sensor low-light capabilities don’t work as well either. Nor are the file sizes big enough to print in a large format. To a great degree, these are specious comments. Small sensors are used where lots of depth of field is required. Noise handling both in-camera and with post-production is better than ever. A 16 by 20-inch print is not a stretch for cropped sensors including micro four-thirds. This is more a case of using the proper tool for the end result than a blanket statement of one format of camera being superior to another.

It’s about the photos, not the equipment

While all that may be true to a point, if you truly embrace your camera system you know how to work around any limitations you come across. Every camera system has some sort of limitation. Looking back at my photos from my Nikon days, I can tell you that no client has ever questioned when I switched cameras or that the resulting quality isn’t as good. High-quality professional photos are still what they expect. And what they receive.

In fact, I’d even counter by saying that the photos I produce now with my Olympus OM-D EM-1 Mark II, are more professional in terms of appearance. This isn’t to say the camera is better — it is to say that I’ve learned the system, and enhanced my photographic skills over time.

I talked to Olympus Visionary Joe Edelman about Tony and Chelsea’s video and the ever-growing trend of putting so much focus on the gear, instead of the photographer’s skill set. Here’s what he had to say:

“With digital technology came advancements that have happened so fast – it is a challenge to keep up with them, but what so often gets overlooked in this race for bigger and better and more… is the fact that the camera doesn’t make the photograph. The photographer does. The camera – it is just a tool.

“Photographers like myself were shooting images that were being printed on billboards with a 2-megapixel Nikon D1.In the last few months, I have shot images with an Olympus M4/3 camera that have been printed 8 feet by 6 feet on a trade show booth and looked every bit as sharp and noise free as the images on the Sony, Nikon and Canon booths.

“It is a tough lesson to learn but eventually if you want to progress and succeed in improving your photography – you have to actually learn and practice photography. Not gear statistics. You can keep buying new and better and bigger gear with more impressive features, but that alone will not make your photography better.”

I agree with Joe wholeheartedly here. According to Tony and Chelsea, I’m using an enthusiast’s camera. They are right. I am enthusiastically using my Olympus micro four-thirds camera to make professional photographs. My clients agree with that too, by the way.

If you haven’t seen the video by Tony and Chelsea Northrup, please check it out below:

Bryan is a photographer specializing in capturing events, theatre, food/drink and corporate moments. Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., he has worked with clients such as CNBC, Michigan State University, ArtPrize, Steelcase, SpartanNash and more. His work has also been featured by Delta Airlines, NBC, Microsoft, LiveStrong and Pure Michigan. Learn more about Bryan at bryanesler.com.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

The difference between enthusiast and professional photographers is often the enthusiast has better gear. An enthusiast doesn’t have to cost justify the cost of the gear (well not nearly as much). An enthusiast may also have a higher paying job that allows them to indulge their hobby. That’s certainly true in my case.

I know lots of enthusiasts that use Pro gear, and Pros that use what Tony would classify as enthusiast gear. Honestly there isn’t a nice dividing line between pro and enthusiast, there is a better differentiator between entry and the other two, but even that’s a pretty wide line.

This whole full frame hyper MP cameras with shallow DOF crap is marketing by CANIKONY is just that marketing. Honestly, there isn’t a camera made in the last 5 years (probably more) that doesn’t produce excellent images. Higher end cameras often have more features, but the reality is the images when shown on screen or for those that do print no one can tell the difference.

I had to chuckle at the argument, even without seeing the video. Why? I volunteer at an outdoor music venue where there is an established photography/video policy that prohibits “professional” cameras. The humor comes from management’s inability to describe to staff how to enforce that policy…which usually culminates in the “definition” of a “professional” camera as one that has a long lens. That’s it: a long lens. That definition, of course, completely ignores any technology issues like sensor size, megapixels, lens length relative to sensor size, etc. and is obviously meaningless, but relatively easy to enforce. A pocketable Sony, Panasonic, or other brand camera with a long lens (e.g., Panasonic ZS200), especially one that fits into a pocket, is OK. So the argument that a camera isn’t “professional” as presented by the video authors seems at best ridiculous…but it got plenty of people’s attention…and that may have been the point.

I also use the Olympus EM1 Mkii. It has changed the way I think about photography and I think it has made me a better photographer because I can do so many different things with one camera. I’m older and I don’t have the steadiest of hands and IBIS is a lifesaver for me.

Tony Northrup has a habit of opening his mouth and inserting his foot or in this case…feet. The gear is neither pro or non pro…it’s just gear. It is the user that is either a pro or enthusiast. The only amateur in this whole article is the one making the incorrect assumptions.

Those two (Tony & Chelsea), like so many others, have such a gear centered focus on their channel that it has totally turned me off from them altogether. Unfortunately, gear is the hot topic to get views on youtube. Gear can be bought instantly. In contrast, photographic skill and artistic expression through a camera cannot be bought. Just look at their images (the only thing that actually matters) and make up your own mind whether their opinion should carry any weight or not. I did, and was not impressed in the least.

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